Name: Sophie Holtom
From: Phoenix, AZ
Votes: 0
In my town, we have a terrible road accident every week or two.
One of these days,
it might be me. One of these days, it might be you.
Somehow, no one is
safe from this plight:
A working mother
driving home at night…
A family taking a
road trip like they do every year…
An Eagle Scout
biking downtown to volunteer…
College students
strolling back to their dorm…
…Deadly should
never be the norm.
We cringe at the
thought of shattered glass,
Flashing
red-and-blue lights as ambulances pass,
And then we turn
away, we move on,
Although the danger
is far from gone.
Amateurs who mistake
The gas for the
brake,
Wrong-way drunk
drivers
Who leave few
survivors.
How did we end up in
this situation?
Ah, yes – the
stunning lack of education.
Drivers who don’t
scan the road, the mirrors, the road again, the sidewalk, the
crosswalk, front, left, front, right, front, behind in succession,
Who allow their
children and music and phone conversations to be a digression,
And add to the
continual civilian safety oppression.
God, it’s so
beautifully sunny outside,
I wish I didn’t
have to stay indoors and hide.
I want to bike to
the store with my brother under the pure blue desert sky,
Without fear of
becoming pancakes like the ones we were hoping to buy.
Consider this my
personal intervention:
You shouldn’t be
on the road if you can’t give it your full attention.
Ringtone on silent,
minimize your distraction,
Be careful, be
deliberate, as you complete your every action.
Make sure you know
where you’re going,
Before you even turn
the keys.
Don’t round the
corners without knowing,
If there’s a
person there, please.
When it comes to
intoxication,
I think it’s a
fair point,
To call that friend,
Lyft, or Uber,
Before your shot,
pint, or joint.
I’ve seen too many
broken windshields,
Windows,
Mirrors,
Bones.
I want to make my
city safer,
But I can’t do it
alone.
All it takes is one
missed glance;
So give the road
another pass.
If you feel
uncertain, don’t leave it to chance,
Consider retaking
the class.
And again, again,
for goodness’ sake,
Please put away the
phone,
No text exchange is
worth the pain,
Of a broken body and
home.
Learn all the rules,
and be aware,
Save yourself the
strife,
If you put in the
time and care,
Safe driving might
save your life.
